Hinge structure for electric power distribution box or the like

ABSTRACT

A hinge structure is provided by hinge knuckle elements snapped into position at apertures of the members designed to be hingedly connected. The hinge knuckles are provided with stop flanges and spring means to secure the hinge knuckles in position. A straight hinge pin interconnects the knuckles and the members to be connected, and is restrained against longitudinal movement by the friction imposed by the lateral thrust of a cover closing spring.

Umted States Patent 1 1 3,5s0,4 1 2 [72] Inventor Hubert L. Weiss [56]References Cited g if 'f 055 w UNITED STATES PATENTS J 'f'sg 5 3,165,2251/1965 Reitzel .3 220 35 [211 App, NO. 875,416 3,307,734 3/1967 Campbell220/35 [22] Filed Nov. 10, 1969 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall [45]Patented May 25, 1971 Att0rneyFlam and Flam Continuation of applicationSer. No. 724,187, Apr. 25, l 968, now abandoned.

[54] HINGE STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX OR THE LIKEABSTRACT: A hinge structure is provided by hinge knuckle elementssnapped into position at apertures of the members designed to behingedly connected. The hinge knuckles are provided with stop flangesand spring means to secure the hinge knuckles in position. A straighthinge pin interconnects the knuckles and the members to be connected,and is restrained against longitudinal movement by the friction imposedby the lateral thrust of a cover closing spring.

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2 A Mil- HINGE STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX OR THE LIKERELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation of application Ser. No.724,187, filed Apr. 25, 1968, and now abandoned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hingestructures and, more particularly, to the method for attaching hingeknuckles and pins to parts intended to be hingedly connected.

Securing a hinge element to parts to be connected is often a timeconsuming and expensive task. Welding hinge leafs to boxes and covers iseffective, but time consuming and expensive. Special equipment andskilled personnel are required. Threaded fasteners can be used to attachhinge leafs, but manipulating screws, nuts and lock washers is tedious.

The primary object of this invention is to provide simple, inexpensivehinge knuckles that without any tools are simply and quickly snappedinto position at apertures of the parts to be connected without bending,twisting or other physical alteration. A straight hinge pin completesthe hinge connection, and is held frictionally in proper longitudinalposition by a coil spring that also urges the hingedly connected partsto closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hinge knuckle structureof this character that is installed in such manner as to provide a neatappearance to the completed item. For this purpose, only the operativeends of the knuckles project from the parts to be connected, theremaining parts being concealed.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of severalembodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a fewforms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification, and which drawings are true scale. These forms will nowbe described in detail illustrating the general principles of theinvention. Structural and operational characteristics attributed toforms of the invention first described shall also be attributed to formslater described, unless such characteristics are obviously inapplicableor unless specific exception is made. It is to be understood that thefollowing detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1- is a pictorial view of a powerdistribution box incorporating the present invention FIG. 2 is anenlarged side elevational view of the box shown in FIG. I, a portion ofthe apparatus being broken away and shown in section.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken along planescorresponding to lines 33 and 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane corresponding to line5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the hinge knuckle.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of a modified hinge knuckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a power distributionunit 10 of the type shown and described in my prior Pat. No. 2,995,670issued Aug. 8, 1961. Such units are often used to provide temporarypower in tract home constructions. The power distribution unit includesa box 12 made of sheet metal, a top 14, and four legs 16. The top 14covers the upper opening of the box 12 and is extended beyond the boxsides in order to provide a weather shield. Moreover, the corners of thetop 14 provide sockets 18 for frictionally receiving the legs 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, one sidewall 20 of the box has a series of openings22, 24 and 26 at which power service sockets 28, 30 and 32 areinstalled. The adjacent end wall 34 mounts a female cable connectorsocket 36. The opposite endwall mounts a male cable connector socketthat is electrically connected to the female cable connector socket bysuitable conductors. By the aid of the connector sockets, the unit isinserted in a powerline. Suitable conductors connect the service socketsto the powerline directly or through circuit protectors.

In order to shield the service sockets 28, 30 and 32 from the elementsincluding sand or dirt, a cover 38 is provided. The cover 38 has aperipheral flange 40, the edge of which is adapted to contact theoutside of the box wall 20.

In order to mount the cover 38, a hinge structure is provided. Twospaced hinge knuckles 42 are carried on the upper flange of the cover38, and two identical spaced hinge knuckles 42 are carried at the upperpart of the wall 20. The box carried knuckles are located between thecover carried hinge knuckles to determine a centered position of thecover. A hinge pin 44 extends through the aligned knuckles 42. A coiledspring 46 is carried on the intermediate part of the hinge pin 44 andhas ends 48 and 50 respectively engaging the sidewall 20 and the cover38. The cover 38 is thus normally urged toward a closed position.Longitudinal movement of the hinge pin 44 is restrained by providing atight friction flt between the pin 44 and the knuckles 42. ACtualabutments on the ends of the pin 44 need not be provided, wherebyassembly is uncomplicated. The hinge pin 44 is long enough to ensurethat it remains in a proper position. If it slides to such an extent asto separate from one of the hinge knuckles, remedial measures are quitesimple.

One of the hinge knuckles 42 is shown in FIG. 6. The knuckle 42 is ofsubstantially U-shaped configuration made of a rectangular piece ofresilient metal. The metal piece is bent about a central transverse axisx to form spaced parallel side portions 52 and 54 and a semicircularbight, bend or connecting portion 56. The free ends opposite the bendhave outwardly turned stop flanges 58 and 60.

The inside surface of the bend 56 is so sized as to form a suitablebearing for the hinge pin 44 and rotation of parts about the axis x.

The hinge knuckle 42 is installed by being passed through rectangularapertures in the cover flange 40 and the box wall 20. Thus, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the sidewall 20 has a rectangular aperture 62 throughwhich the hinge knuckle 42 is projected. Pairs of outwardly presseddetents or protuberances 64 and 66 on the side portions 52 and 54cooperate with the stop flanges 58 and 60 to sandwich the sidewall 20and thus lock the hinge knuckle 42 in place. In order to insert thehinge knuckle 42, the sidewalls 52 and 54 are squeezed together andpassed through the opening 62. The rounded portions of the detents 64and 66 may serve as cams to produce the requisite flexure. Since thedetents 64 and 66 are paired, any tendency of the knuckles to rock ortilt about an axis parallel to the plane of the mounting aperture isresisted.

In a similar manner the other hinge knuckles 42 are installed atrectangular apertures 68 and 70 (FIG. 3) in the top flange of the cover38 and an aperture 72 (FIG. 2) in the sidewall 20.

The mounting apertures 68 and 70 in the cover flange 40 (FIG. 3) arelocated inwardly a sufficient distance to ensure that the stop flanges58 or 60 of the knuckles are recessed within the flange edge to allowproper closure of the cover 38. This inward offset (Figs. 4 and 5)determines the required length of the knuckles carried by the box. Thus,the offset d (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) corresponds substantially to thedistance between the axis x and the contacting surfaces of the stopflanges 58 and 60, less the thickness of the wall 20.

In order to hold the hinge pin 44 in the recesses recessed provided bythe bends 56, each side portion of each of the hinge knuckles 42 has apair of inwardly struck projections, as at 74 (see also FIG. 5). Theseprojections, as well as the detents 64 and 66, are conveniently formedbefore the knuckle is bent.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, the hinge knucklehas a pair of integrally struck springs 82 and 84 to interlock at theaperture in place of the detents 64 and 66. In all other respects, theknuckle 80 is similar to the knuckle 42. Instead of forming the knucklesof metal they could, of course, be made of molded plastic.

As shown at the lefthand portion of FIG. 2, the cover 90 at the sidewall34 is installed by knuckles 42.

lclaim:

1. ln combination: wall means forming a box, said box having a pair ofspaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; wall means forming acover, said cover having a peripheral flange, said flange having at oneside a pair of spaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; ahinge knuckle for each of said openings, each of said hinge knucklesbeing pressed in the corresponding aperture and providing a bearingrecess, said bearing recesses being capable of alignment, each hingeknuckle having spring lock means for attaching the hinge knuckle inposition; and a hinge pin seated in said bearing recesses.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 together with spring meanscarried by said hinge pin and urging said cover to closed position andexerting a lateral thrust on said hinge pin to produce a frictionalinteraction between said pin and said bearing recesses whereby said pinis restrained from axial movement so that stop means need not beprovided on said pin to limit axial movement.

3. In combination: wall means forming a box, said box having a pair ofspaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; wall means forming acover, said cover having a peripheral flange, said flange having at oneside, a pair of spaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; ahinge knuckle for each of said openings, each of said hinge knucklescomprising a substantially rectangular strip of material bent to aU-shape configuration, the free ends having outwardly turned stopflanges engaging the edges at the inside of the corresponding aperture,and having spring means engaging the edges at the outside of saidaperture to lock said knuckle in position; and a common hinge pinthreaded through said knuckles.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which each hinge knuckleis made of resilient metal and has detents struck outwardly to definewith said flanges, a space for reception of the edges about thecorresponding aperture whereby said hinge knuckle is locked in positionat said aperture.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which each hinge knuckleis made of resilient metal and has springs struck outwardly from itsside portions to engage adjacent the outside edges of said aperturewhile said flanges engage adjacent the inside edges of said aperture.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said hinge knuckleis provided with inwardly extending projections to confine said hingepin against lateral movement in the bearings provided by said bends.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said rectangularapertures of said peripheral flange are spaced from the edge of saidperipheral flange by an amount equal to the distance between the axis ofthe bearings provided by said bends and the engaging surfaces of saidstop flanges, less the thickness of said sheet metal cover.

1. In combination: wall means forming a box, said box having a pair ofspaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; wall means forming acover, said cover having a peripheral flange, said flange having at oneside a pair of spaced longitudinally aligned rectangular openings; ahinge knuckle for each of said openings, each of said hinge knucklesbeing pressed in the corresponding aperture and providing a bearingrecess, said bearing recesses being capable of alignment, each hingeknuckle having spring lock means for attaching the hinge knuckle inposition; and a hinge pin seated in said bearing recesses.
 2. Thecombination as set forth in claim 1 together with spring means carriedby said hinge pin and urging said cover to closed position and exertinga lateral thrust on said hinge pin to produce a frictional interactionbetween said pin and said bearing recesses whereby said pin isrestrained from axial movement so that stop means need not be providedon said pin to limit axial movement.
 3. In combination: wall meansforming a box, said box having a pair of spaced longitudinally alignedrectangular openings; wall means forming a cover, said cover having aperipheral flange, said flange having at one side, a pair of spacedlongitudinally aligned rectangular openings; a hinge knuckle for each ofsaid openings, each of said hinge knuckles comprising a substantiallyrectangular strip of material bent to a U-shape configuration, the freeends having outwardly turned stop flanges engaging the edges at theinside of the corresponding aperture, and having spring means engagingthe edges at the outside of said aperture to lock said knuckle inposition; and a common hinge pin threaded through said knuckles.
 4. Thecombination as set forth in claim 3 in which each hinge knuckle is madeof resilient metal and has detents struck outwardly to define with saidflanges, a space for reception of the edges about the correspondingaperture whereby said hinge knuckle is locked in position at saidaperture.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which each hingeknuckle is made of resilient metal and has springs struck outwardly fromits side portions to engage adjacent the outside edges of said aperturewhile said flanges engage adjacent the inside edges of said aperture. 6.The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said hinge knuckle isprovided with inwardly extending projections to confine said hinge pinagainst lateral movement in the bearings provided by said bends.
 7. Thecombination as set forth in claim 3 in which said rectangular aperturesof said peripheral flange are spaced from the edge of said peripheralflange by an amount equal to the distance between thE axis of thebearings provided by said bends and the engaging surfaces of said stopflanges, less the thickness of said sheet metal cover.